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AMERICAN LITERATURE.

The Private Life of Daniel Webster. By CHARLES LANMAN, late his private Secretary. 1853.

WITHOUT aiming to present a systematic biography, Mr. Lanman has had the best opportunities of making such observations, and collecting such reminiscences of his great countryman, as could not fail to make an interesting book. The life of Daniel Webster will be undertaken by his literary executors; and from his extensive correspondence, and remarkable gift in that kind of writing, high expectations are formed of the work, which are not likely to be disappointed. Meanwhile, the present little memorial affords a pleasing picture of the great man's private life.

Daniel Webster's ancestors came originally from Scotland, and were among the earliest settlers in New Hampshire. His father was a farmer, a soldier in the revolutionary war, a member of the Legislature, and ultimately a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a man of strong mind and strong will. His wife was a lady of Welsh extraction, and of superior intellect. Their son Daniel was born in 1782.

In a speech at Saratoga, in 1840, Mr. Webster made the following touching allusion to his birth-place:

I make to it an annual visit. I carry my children to it, to teach them the hardships endured by the generations which have gone before them. I love to dwell on the tender recollections, the kindred ties, the early affections, and the touching narratives and incidents, which mingle with all I know of this primitive family abode. I weep to think that none of those who inhabited it are now living; and if ever I am ashamed of it, or if I ever fail in affectionate veneration for him who reared it, and defended it against savage violence and destruction, cherished all the domestic virtues beneath its roof, and, through the fire and blood of

a seven years' revolutionary war, shrunk from no danger, no toil, no sacrifice, to serve his country, and to raise his children to a better condition than his own, may my name, and the name of my posterity, be blotted for ever from the memory of mankind.

The numerous anecdotes here related about his boyhood shewed that "the child was father of the man;" but similar legendary tales are told of all remarkable men. His mother prophesied that he would be a great man. His father said that he would be "something or nothing." His schoolmaster had no pupil like Dan Webster. He could recite from memory

half the Bible and volumes of poetry, but he could never command sufficient resolution to make a declamation. His father made a great struggle to give him a college education. “I remember," he once said, "the very hill which we were ascending through deep snow, in a New-England sleigh, when my father made I could not speak. known his purpose to me. A warm glow ran all over me, and I laid my head on my father's shoulder and wept." From his earliest years he was a great reader, and, previous to his going to college, his favourite books were, the Spectator, Hudibras, Pope's Homer, and the Essay on Man; the Bible, Shakspeare, and Don Quixote, were also favourites. At college he acquitted himself creditably, but did not receive, though he expected, the highest hoHis diploma he tore up, in presence of his fellow-students, exclaiming, "My industry may make me a great man, but this miserable parchment cannot !" This shewed pluck, at

nours.

any rate.

His first employment was to teach a country school, during which he began to read Blackstone's Commentaries and other legal works. He thus describes his personal appearance at that time, "Long, slender, pale, and all eyes; indeed, I went by the name of all eyes the country round." He then qualified himself for a legal practitioner, and, by his abilities and plodding perseverance, rose to the first rank in his profession. His public life is well known, and is not referred to in this volume, except when

necessary.

Mr. Webster, like most American gentlemen, had land, and farmed it himself. And as he was pre-eminent in law, so he was the foremost man in agriculture. When at home, he superintended the minutest details of his farming operations; and when at the seat of Government, he wrote regularly to his "man," John Taylor, who was also a great man, being nearly six feet five inches high. "To see Mr. Webster in his regular farming suit, and with his white slouched hat on his head, and a stick in his hand, walking among his cattle, was indeed an interesting and beautiful sight. A stranger would have taken him for a stalwart drover, or butcher, selling or purchasing stock, while in reality he was the master-mind of the world." His Marshfield estate was regarded as a model farm in his

own neighbourhood. He was fond of meeting with, and instructing, the surrounding yeomanry. He taught them how to enrich their soils, and in stocking his own farm with the very best of blooded cattle he also gave them away with a liberal hand. The following picture has some characteristic points:

The raising of fine cattle was Mr. Webster's agricultural hobby, and it was a rare treat to take a walk with him over his grazing fields, or through the spacious yards adjoining his overflowing barns, and to hear him descant upon the goodness and beauty of his Alderney cows, with their gazelle eyes, or the brilliant colour of his Devon oxen, and contrasting their excellences with those which distinguish the breeds of Hertfordshire and Ayrshire. A better judge of cattle was not to be found anywhere; and though his stables were abundantly supplied with horses, for these he entertained no uncommon attachment; but then, again, for sheep and swine he had a partiality. Of the latter animal he once raised a single litter of twelve, which were all entirely white, and, when killed, averaged in weight no less than four hundred pounds. And those who have a passion for the oddities of the quadruped world, might, by taking a short walk into a particular field, have a sight of several South-American lamas, which helped to give a romantic character to the farm. And when the reader comes to add to the foregoing three varieties of geese, ducks of all kinds domesticated in this country, Guinea hens, peacocks, and Chinese poultry, to an almost unlimited extent, he may well imagine that the living animals of Marshfield compose a "cattle shew" of

no common order.

He had a fine library. His entire collection of books has been valued at 40,000 dollars, The writer mentions that, on a recent occasion, before starting for Elm Farm (his ancestral home), he directed him to go to a book-store and purchase some forty or fifty volumes of late English books, for his use at the farm. The collection consisted of one or two old dictionaries, works on natural history, books of travel, a little history, and several volumes of correspondence, but not a fragment on politics. A number of reviews were also sent up by the booksellers, containing elaborate articles about himself, and the complete edition of his works. But he declined to look at them, stating that "such things were not at all interesting to him; that he had done his best through life, and that this consciousness was more comforting to him than the good opinions of those who knew him not."

some years ago, he was compelled to like him; to think him a good fellow, a smarter man than people thought him, and wished him prosperity."

The opinion that he entertained of his great rival, Henry Clay, shews that he had a generous heart. It was uttered at his own table while the great Kentuckian was on his deathbed.

Mr. Clay is a great man; beyond all question a true patriot. He has done much for his country. He ought long ago to have been elected President. I think, however, he was never a man of books, a bad student, but he has displayed remarkable genius. I never could imagine him sitting comfortably in his library, and reading quietly out of the great books of the past. He has been too fond of the world to enjoy any thing like that. He has been too fond of excitement-he has lived upon it; he has been too fond of company, not enough alone; and has had few resources within himself. Now a man who cannot, to some extent, depend upon himself for happiness, is, to my mind, one of the unfortunate. But Clay is a great man, and if he ever had animosities against me I forgive him, I forget them.

Mr. Lanman is uniformly eulogistic of his great friend, and endows him with every moral and religious virtue. But others whisper that he was intemperate, licentious, and dishonest. We believe neither his eulogists nor his detractors. The amount of work he performed, his steady habits in all other respects, forbid the supposition that he was intemperate any further than living heartily, as a man who works hard

needs to do. Licentiousness is inconsistent with

his intensely domestic nature, his love for his
kindred, and the tender recollections which he
cherished of his departed wife and children. In
He spent
money matters he was careless.
much: he was liberal to others. His "charity

Mr.

covers a multitude of sins." He left debts behind him, and he also had debts due to him. He Lanman takes no notice of these accusations, was a bad manager, but not dishonest. though they have been publicly made: doubtless he did not believe them. In religion Mr. Webster was orthodox, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, was regular in his attendance at church, and died at least like a

Christian.

History of the State of New York. By JOHN

Touching the effect upon him of the last Presidential nomination, Mr. Lanman says, that, ROMEYN BRODHEAD. Vol. I. 1853. "though his defeat must have caused some THIS is a national work, published under nadisappointment, he never for a single moment tional auspices, if we are correct in applying manifested any regret." On one occasion he the term to a provincial legislature. The Amesaid, with tears in his eyes, "Thank God, one ricans are becoming uncommonly fond of histhing is certain, they could not take away from tory; and any legislative act for recovering the me what I have done for my country.' Of records of their early history, or collecting the both the gentlemen who were nominated, Mr. statistics of their physical or commercial conLanman has heard him speak in terms of great dition, is sure to be popular. Books are now praise. "General Pierce," he said, "he had realizing unusually high prices in London saleknown from boyhood, and all his family; and rooms; and the reason assigned is, that they in spite of some hard things which Frank (for are bought up wholesale by American agents. so he designated him) had uttered against him This antiquarian spirit will probably lead to

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some useful result. American authors are eager to enter the field; and it must be admitted that they manifest a good faculty for that kind of research. Mr. Brodhead is a fair example of their diligence and energy. He was designated to his task by the New-York Legislature, and set out to seek his materials in the archives of England, Holland, and France. The result of his documentary exploration was a transcript from official sources, extending to eighty volumes, which he took home with him to digest into a readable form. It furnishes interesting details of the early history of Holland and of the residence there of the English Puritans, who found in that country the same asylum which political refugees now obtain in England. The author is justly of opinion that the Puritans were indebted to this acquaintance with the actual working of Republican Institutions for the antimonarchical sentiments which they carried to America, and which had taken deep root in the soil before the Revolution. And inasmuch as there was an extensive immigration of the Dutch themselves, he is unwilling to trace the origin of American liberty to the Puritans, or to the influence of the Anglo-Saxon element in the country. The popular veneration for "Plymouth Rock," and of the "Pilgrim Fathers," is merely a poetical delusion with which history is at variance. There is much truth in the following remarks, which form the conclusion of

the first volume:

Much of what has been written of American history has been written by those who, from habit or prejudice, have been inclined to magnify the influence, and extol the merit of the Anglo-Saxon race, at the expense of every other element which has assisted to form the national greatness. In no particular has this been more remarkable than in the unjust view which has so often been taken of the founders of New York. Holland has long been a theme for the ridicule of British writers; and, even in this country, the character and manners of the Dutch have been made the subjects of an unworthy depreciation, caused, perhaps, in some instances, by too ready an imitation of those provincial chroniclers, who could see little good in their "noxious neighbours " of New Netherland.

Yet, without undervaluing others, it may confidently be claimed, that to no nation in the world is the Republic of the West more indebted than to the United Provinces, for the idea of the confederation of sovereign states; for noble principles of constitutional freedom; for magnanimous sentiments of religious toleration; for characteristic sympathy with the subjects of oppression; for liberal doctrines in trade and commerce; for illustrious patterns of private integrity and public virtue; and for generous and timely aid in the establishment of independence. Nowhere among the people of the United States can men be found excelling in honesty, industry, courtesy or accomplishment, the posterity of the early Dutch settlers in New Netherland. And when the providence of God decreed that the rights of humanity were again to be maintained through long years of endurance and of war, the descendants of Hollanders nobly emulated the example of their forefathers: nor was their stedfast patriotism outdone by that of any of the heroes in the strife which made the blood-stained soil of New York and New Jersey the Netherlands of America.

The War with Ormuzd and Ahriman in the Nineteenth Century. By HENRY WINTER DAVIS.

THIS is not a modern Persian romance, but a political history of Europe since the treaty of the Holy Alliance in 1815. After scrutinising the principles and policy indicated in that treaty, the author adopts it as a key to the interpretation of subsequent events, and in this light discusses the "Revolt of France and Poland against the Holy Conspirators;" the "Revolt of Europe in 1848;" the "Dictatorship of Russia in Europe;" the "Relations of American and English Liberty to the Russian Dictatorship;" and the "American Republic and the last War of Freedom and Despotism." The author manifests an intimate acquaintance with his subject, and treats it with marked ability. He is, indeed, an eloquent writer, in the American style of eloquence, and his work merits attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

Abstractedly, "Ormuzd," is Liberty; and "Ahriman," is Despotism. Concretely they are America and Russia. England is to go down! As a prediction of our doom, and as a fair specimen of the author's style, we quote the following:

THE POWER OF ENGLAND

is to Europe now, what that of the Dutch was formerly: and similar causes, but of greater intensity, may bring strength, like that of the Dutch Republic when Van her proud head to as great humiliation. England's

Tromp and De Ruyter swept the channel, lies in her colonies, her dependencies, and her marine. Never a first-rate military power on the continent, she has played her part there by subsidies, by alliances, by the genius of her generals at the head of allied troops with small bodies of her own. Her size is contracted; her population pressing the confines of its possible limits; while the expanse of Russia offers room for additional millions, and her continental neighbours may double theirs with comparative convenience. The advance of the rest of Europe tends directly and inevitably to the relative decline of English power and influence. He genius and industry, and commercial enterprise, may keep up the unequal contest for a long time; but she must see across the Channel, in the Dutch Republic, the foreshadowing of her own fate, and one as speedy as it is unavoidable, if Russian counsels are to dictate the policy of Europe.

Not quite so fast, we think; though danger be at hand, and England will require to summon her ancient spirit to her counsels, in order to meet it. We are exposed to more formidable perils than a French invasion; but we have no doubt that our sagacity, our firmness, and our resourses, will be equal to our emergencies.

Our tender point is our trade and commerce; but the only danger that can arise, will be from causes as yet unforeseen and uncontrollable. As it is, our condition is flourishing, and likely to continue so. As a nation, we are distinguished for union, order, and contentment; and Mr. Davis ridiculously overrates our political dissensions when he tells us that "a civil war for republican institutions in England is by no means a distant contingency."

Such an impression may readily be produced by listening to orations from Irish exiles; but a week's residence either in Ireland or England would soon convince the most sanguine revolutionist that such an event, if possible at all, is too remote for calculation. Mr. Davis lays down the European policy which should be adopted by America, which is in no respect different from that hitherto carried out by England. It is simply, that America had better fight her battles in Europe with allies, than on her own soil without them.

Pioneer Women of the West. By MRS. ELLET, Author of the "Women of the American Revolution." 1852.

WE are often reminded that "fact is stronger than fiction," and here is another confirmation of it. The materials for this work have been collected from private sources throughout the Western States, and the result is, "such a series of authentic sketches as will not only exhibit the character of many pioneer matrons-characters that would pass for strongly-marked originals in any fiction-but will afford a picture of the times, in the progressive settlement of the whole country, from Tennessee to Michigan. To render this picture as complete as possible, descriptions of the domestic life and manners of the pioneers, and illustrative anecdotes from reliable sources, have been interwoven with the memoirs; and notice has been taken of such political events as had an influence on the condition of the country."

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Much as has been said about the " progress of the Americans, we can form but a faint conception of what the early pioneers had to go through. And this is especially true of the

women

One of their own number often said, "A good Providence sent such men and women into the world together. They were made to match." Such a race will probably never again live in any country; and it is fortunate that they have found a historian, ere the lapse of time, and the march of civilization had buried them and their noble deeds, and still nobler sufferings, in oblivion. It is a history full of personal adventure, and no power of imagination could create materials more replete with romantic interest. The daring with which they penetrated the wilderness, plunging into trackless forests, and encountering the savage tribes whose hunting-grounds they had invaded, and the perseverance with which they overcame all difficulties, compel our wondering admiration. It is truly observed of them

The greater part of mankind might derive advantage from the contemplation of their humble virtues, hospitable homes, and spirits patient, noble, proud, and free; their self-respect, grafted on innocent thoughts; their days of health, and nights of sleep; their toils by danger dignified, yet guiltless; their hopes of a cheerful old age and a quiet grave.

As a sample of the marvellous character of the incidents in this book, we select the following account of

A FEMALE ADVENTURE.

[The settlers have taken refuge in a fort from a party of hostile Indians.]

At this crisis the terrible fact was announced that their ammunition was nearly exhausted. It was determined to send to Camp Union for a supply; but few men could be spared from the fort, and none was willing to encounter, with a small party, the perils of a hundred miles' journey through a trackless forest. Mrs. Bailey heard of the difficulty, and instantly offered her services, saying she would go alone. Her acquaintance with the country, less spirit, were well known, and the commander of the her excellent horsemanship, her perseverance, and feargarrison at length yielded to her solicitation. A good horse was furnished her, with a stock of jerked venison armed with rifle, &c.; and resolutely overcoming every and johnny-cake; she set her face toward Greenbrier, obstacle in the ruggedness of the way through the woods, the mountains she had to cross, and the rivers to swim, undaunted by the perils threatening from wild beasts and straggling parties of Indians, she reached Camp Union in safety, delivered her orders, and, being provided with a led-horse, fully laden, as well as her own, set forward on her return.

She used to relate how her trail was followed for hours

together by wolves, watching for an opportunity to attack her horses. When night set in she was compelled to make large fires to keep the wild beasts at bay. To protect herself in slumber from the danger of rattlesnakes

and copperheads, which infested the wilderness, she had to construct a pioneer bedstead every night, by driving into the ground four forked sticks about three feet high, adjust upon them other sticks to serve as bed-rails and slats, and overlay them with a quantity of green boughs, her blanket serving as a musquito bar. Thus she would sleep amidst the howling of wolves, the screaming of panthers, and the buzzing of troublesome insects; at break of day, replacing the loads on her horses, and resuming her journey, her simple breakfast being eaten on horseback. She arrived in safety with her supplies at the fort.

This singular woman was a native of England. She was born at Liverpool, and her

maiden-name was Ann Hennis. At the

age

of

thirty she married Richard Trotter, and emigrated with him to America, both, on account of poverty, being "sold out to service, according to custom, for the payment of the passagemoney. On their liberation, they became settlers. Trotter was killed by the Indians, and, after his death, a strange and wild spirit seemed to possess the widow, stimulating her to seek revenge. She handled firearms with the expertness of a soldier, and the rifle was her constant companion. She spent much of her time in fishing and hunting. In person she was short and stout, of coarse, masculine appearance, and generally attired like a huntsman. She rendered great services in the Indian wars, fighting in the ranks with the regular soldiers. She married a second time, and lived upwards of a century. Her death took place in 1825. She could read and write, and seems to have possessed an unusual share of intelligence for one of her station in life. Such is an epitome of the career of one of these "Pioneer Women of the West."

Summer Gleanings; or, Sketches and Incidents of a Pastor's Vacation. By JOHN TODD, D.D. 1852.

JACOB ABBOTT and John Todd are two writers of the same school, who are deservedly popular both in America and England. Whoever has read "The Young Christian or "The Student's Manual," will feel an interest in all that proceeds from the same pens. Jacob Abbott pursues his literary vocation with great diligence. The works of Dr. Todd are fewer in number, but equally useful in their character. These "Summer Gleanings" are his latest productions, consisting of stories and sketches thrown off during his summer rambles among the wild lakes, and now collected and arranged by his daughter. One of the sketches is a clever caricature of the "Woman's Rights Convention." He threatens to summon a "Man's Rights Convention," to discuss the sufferings and grievances of the gentlemen. He proposes to have " a cavalcade of butchers," "a long line of coal-diggers," besides sailors and porters, to proclaim their wrongs. He then gives an outline of a speech wherewith he proposes to electrify the Convention; the moral of which is, that the ladies had better hold their tongues. Such is the light, playful fancy which enlivens these "Summer Gleanings. They are well worthy of re-publication in England.

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Lectures on African Colonization, and kindred subjects. By DAVID CHRISTY, Agent of the American Colonization Society for Ohio. 1853.

THESE are able, interesting, and important Lectures, embodying a vast amount of facts and statistics not easily accessible to common readers, and never before presented in so compact a form. The object of the Colonizationists is to increase the amount of free labour in tropical countries, on such a scale, as to compete successfully with slave-labour in producing tropical commodities. Africa is selected for this purpose, on the ground of having ample territories, a large population, and a claim upon civilized nations for aid in developing its resources and promoting its advancement. It is believed that America alone has the power to accomplish this object by sending her emancipated slaves to colonize that continent, thereby introducing civilizing agencies among its tribes, establishing the most effective check to the slave-trade on its coast, and affording the negro race an opportunity of self-development, and of vindicating its title to freedom before the world. The republic of Liberia is a colony of this character, and established with this view. The question is, Can the Liberians compete with the Brazilians in producing marketable commodities? Free labour in Jamaica and the West Indies produces sugar at 201. per ton, while the

cost in slave countries is only 121. per ton. Can Liberia do any better? It is replied, that it can. In these Lectures it is shewn that the soil and climate of Africa are well adapted to the production of sugar, coffee, and cotton; and that the natives can be successfully employed in their cultivation. In relation to the first point, "there is no longer any doubt among intelligent men." Coffee, equal, if not superior, to that of Java or Mocha, is raised in Liberia, and can be easily cultivated to any extent. The shrub bears fruit thirty or forty years, each producing ten pounds annually. Cotton, of a superior quality, yielding two crops a year, is indigenous, and thrives twelve or fourteen years without renewing the plant. Sugar Cane grows luxuriantly; and, as there are no frosts to be dreaded, can be brought to greater perfection than in the Southern States of the Union. Other articles of great value are raised in Liberia, which it is unnecessary to specify. On the second point much information has been collected, and it seems that the labour of natives can be made available. The Colony numbers about 150,000, including natives, many of whom are becoming industrious. Some of them are partially educated; and one, a few years ago, occupied a seat in the legisla ture. The Colonists can secure from them all necessary labour at very low wages. The Afri

cans seem more eager to engage in commerce than any other barbarous people. It is this eagerness which supports the slave-trade; for it is to purchase foreign commodities that the natives resort to slave hunts to procure slaves to give in exchange. Recently, the chiefs in Gallinas, selling their territory to Liberia, stipulated, in lieu of relinquishing this sort of traffic, not only to have a large sum of money, but that commissioners should be appointed "to settle the wars in the country (because wars will now no longer be useful when the captives cannot be sold!), and open the trades in camwood, ivory, and palm-oil, with the interior tribes; and also to settle among them, as soon as convenient, persons capable of instructing them in the arts of husbandry."

The difficulty in making the free labour of the West Indies compete with the slave labour of Cuba and Brazil arises from the want of an equal number of hands willing to perform an equal amount of labour at an equal cost. The Colonization Society wishes to bring Africa and its 160,000,000 of people into the field, as rivals to the slaves of the western hemisphere. The author thinks this more practicable in the case of Africa than in that of India; but he does not state any satisfactory grounds for coming to such a conclusion. To us it appears that both countries have pretty nearly the same advantages neutralized by the same formidable obstacles.

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